📰 1) Republic Day Celebrations — 26 January 2026
- India celebrated Republic Day marking 77 years since the Constitution came into force.
- The main parade was held at Kartavya Path, New Delhi, showcasing military strength, cultural diversity, and technological progress.
- For the first time since 2018, two chief guests — Ursula von der Leyen (President of the European Commission) and Antonio Costa (President of the European Council) — were invited, highlighting strong India-EU ties.
- The celebrations included marching contingents, cultural tableaux from states, military fly-past, and cultural performances.
🌏 2) India Takes Over BRICS Presidency (January)
- India assumed the Chairmanship of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, plus new members) from 1 January 2026.
- The official logo and website for BRICS 2026 Summit preparations were launched, reflecting India’s role in leading cooperation on economy, technology, climate, and global governance.
📚 3) Kerala Legislature International Book Festival (7–13 January)
- The 4th edition of the Kerala Legislature International Book Festival was organized in Thiruvananthapuram, bringing together authors, scholars, and book lovers.
- Activities included talks, debates, author interactions, children’s events, discussions, and cultural performances.
- The aim was to promote reading culture and democratic values among citizens.
🚴 4) Pune Grand Tour Gets UCI Status
- The Pune Grand Tour (PGT) 2026, a professional cycling race, was awarded UCI Class 2.2 status — a first for India.
- Scheduled from 19–23 January, the event covers varied terrain across Pune district and offers riders opportunities to earn Olympic qualification points.
- This marks a major milestone for professional cycling in India.
🏸 5) 2026 India Open Badminton Tournament (13–18 January)
- The Yonex Sunrise India Open 2026, part of the BWF World Tour, was held at the Indira Gandhi Arena, New Delhi.
- Top international players competed in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles events.
- This tournament is a key fixture in the global badminton calendar and highlights India’s growing stature in the sport.
🚔 6) Operation Gang Bust (13 January)
- A major police crackdown was launched by multiple state police forces (Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh) to dismantle gang networks.
- Over 850 arrests were made in a 48-hour operation, along with seizure of illegal arms and cash, targeting organized crime across northern India.
🏆 7) Men’s T20 World Cup Updates (January–Feb)
- Italy qualified for the Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 for the first time in history.
- Warm-up matches took place in India and Sri Lanka, involving 18 participating national teams.
- India entered the tournament as defending champions.
🧠 8) Key National Policy & Initiatives (January)
📌 a) Zero Duty on Exports to Australia
- From 1 January 2026, 100% zero duty was applied on all Indian exports to Australia under the India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA), boosting trade opportunities for MSMEs and farmers.
📌 b) Assam Constitutes 8th State Pay Commission
- Assam became the first Indian state to set up its 8th State Pay Commission in January to revise salaries and allowances for government employees.
📌 c) Extension of Textile PLI Scheme
- The government extended the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for textiles to 31 March 2026, supporting industry growth and export competitiveness.
📌 d) Launch of IITM Global Research Foundation
- The IITM Global Research Foundation was launched at IIT Madras to strengthen international research collaboration and develop world-class academic programs.
🌱 9) Environment & Health Developments
🐅 Tiger Conservation Challenges
- India reported a rise in tiger deaths in 2025, highlighting challenges in wildlife management and habitat protection.
🦋 Kerala’s First Butterfly Sanctuary
- Aralam Sanctuary in Kerala was renamed as Aralam Butterfly Sanctuary, signifying focused efforts on butterfly conservation.
🏥 Delhi Expands Healthcare with Arogya Mandirs
- 81 new Ayushman Arogya Mandirs were launched in Delhi to enhance community health services.
💡 10) Interesting World News (January)
🇨🇭 Switzerland Fire Tragedy
- A fire at a bar in Crans-Montana, Switzerland killed at least 47 people and injured over 100 during New Year celebrations.
🌍 Global Events & Alignments
- Rare astronomical alignment of interstellar object 3I/ATLAS occurred, offering unique scientific observation opportunities.
📌 Quick Facts to Remember
✔ 26 January 2026 — Republic Day (77th anniversary) celebrated across India.
✔ India took over BRICS presidency from 1 January 2026.
✔ Pune Grand Tour gets UCI cycling status — first such event in India.
✔ Zero duty for Indian exports to Australia started on 1 January 2026.